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To Mr John Campbell
of Stonefield Esq
to the care of Mr Hugh
Grame [sic] writter [sic] at
Edinburgh

[Written from] Ruthven House
Wednesday 22nd 1749.

I had the pleasure of your last at Duncrub; just before I received it Rossie came there, and told me you was to be here that evening, such agreeable news very soon lightened my spirits, which had been quite on the lowest establishment all the time I was there and returned to their former situation when upon reading your letter I found instead of coming, you were gone so much further off, and I’m afraid on a useless errant, for since your father has hitherto declined coming, I fancy he’ll continue to refuse it; but as I suppose you will at any rate be in Town by the end of this week, I write this to let you know that Lady Ruthven and I go to Lady Catties this day, but we return again on saturday, so that I shall hope to find a letter from you when we get home; Lady Ruthven regrets vastly that you are not to be of our party and I am since Lady [?] will be extremely sorry for it, so that I shan’t be the only person (tho’ the one) that will (most) regrete [sic] the absence of the amiable Orsames.
I persuade myself however we shall see you here by next week, if I have any time before then, I hope to get acquainted with Mr Jonas the Foundling who arrived here safe with the two [?] which altogether promise a great deal of entertainment and I return you a vast many thanks for it; tho’ Im afraid I shall think too often of the giver to find all the amusement I should otherwise do in it; I hope we shall soon have a happy meeting, till then, and always, may everything that is good attend you. Adieu,
G Stewart.
Lady Ruthven sends you her best Compts [compliments] & I beg mine may be acceptable to L Banff.

To John Campbell Esq
To be left at the Right Honourable
The Lord Banff’s Lodgings
In Mills Square
Edinburgh

Sunday night
I had just now begin to let go the hopes I have flatter’d myself with both yesterday & to day of seeing you; indeed I thought them badly founded, yet what one wishes, is so agreeable to believe, that I could not help indulging a hint I had sent me last post of your being to be here in a day or two, not withstanding your letter of the same dates, was far from promising it; I really don’t know Orsames what to think of the D’s answer, but I imagine I should explain it favourably, if it was not that I always see every thing in its worst light, when you are away from me; no doubt my Brother will write soon, indeed I must say as to him, he has enter’d as minutely into this affair, as my Papa, had he been alive, could have done; but for the D, I think my self very little obliged to him, since he has never concern’d himself about it, with the view that as an only surviving Parent I think he ought to have had.
I’m afraid your Father will insist upon your going west with him, but I can’t think he will be disobliged at your declining it, so I hope you’ll get it shifted off, for indeed I shall be sadly damped if you do not; how much am I obliged to you Orsames for that entertaining motto you enclose to me, but this I can assure you, there only wants your name, where Inlea is, to make it mine; were the case otherwise, I really fancy our affair should go better on, for I have always noticed, that where parties are indifferent, or love by halves, those matches go on most swimmingly, however, these difficulties we have met with, I persuade my self will make us yet more happy hereafter – I shall long for tomorrows letters as I hope to hear what you are doing; Lord Ruthven ask’d me just now when you thought of moving this way, I wish I may be able to answer him to morrow; if Lord Banffs affair comes to an issue so soon as it seems to us here to promise, Im afraid he’ll keep you in Town; I never heard a word from Miss Campbell about her crofts, so I fancy you have grasp’d right about it; as to the House you mention I think ‘tis a pitty [sic] there are bugs in it, for I have heard say without taking down the wenscoating [sic], there is no probabillity [sic] of getting them smok’d out, but perhaps this may be a mistake, and I should be very glad it was, for I fancy the House would otherwise answer mighty well; Mc Millan wrote last post, & I shall answer it to Night; I cant think, how you could scruple medling with any thing I had concern in, because you say I did not desire it, but I know [document damaged] of it, nor did not fancy MacMillan did, he mentions I think [document damaged] if youll be so good I wish you’d take it from him, & deposite [sic] 40 of it with my friend Hugo, & I’ll write to him soon how he is to dispose of it; the rest if you please you’ll bring over with you, in Gold; if ’tis not too troublesome to carry; I think the Bread Basket the prittiest [sic] present that can be, if it was not too expensive a one, but I imagine such a thing must come high; I hope the Captain has changed his noat [sic] by the virtue of matrimony, if he does not soon, I’m afraid he’ll find but little real Happiness in it, but that I should be sorry for; I forgot to tell you I had a letter last post from Lady Kathy Wemyss when she told me L. Strichen at going north had told her the settlements were all agreed upon, & he fancy’d there was now no further stop to our affair; Good Mrs Noble writes that she has seen you & is much taken with you (& I dare say you’ll think her a sweet agreeable woman;) indeed Orsames My favourites are all so fond of you, that I don’t believe they will suffer me to keep you all to myself; I beg you’ll take care how you are mounted next time you travel for that weak animal you rode from this on, was almost as bad as too metal a one, & Ruthven & My Sister both desire to be remember’d to you & pray make my compts [compliments] to Bess & [?]; I wait impatiently to hear of a happy conclusion to Ld R-s affair; you need not doubt my thinking of you – a tous les moments de jour; but I don't know if I should fancy so of you, for yester day I playd the whole evening at whist, & tho’ all advantages was against me, I had such luck as you [document damaged]. Farewell agreeable Orsames. GS [Grace Stewart]

To Mr John Campbell Advocate
To the care of Mr Menzies
of Coutteratters at Newtile [sic]
In Angus
By Perth

My Dearest Moitié when I wrote you last I was in such a hurry I scarce knew what I said besides the disappointment of finding you gone further off, when I was looking out ev’ry moment for you coming, disconcerted me so much that my spirits quite forsook me, and all last night I could not get a wink of sleep for the Dismal apprehensions that I should be brought to Bed before you got back to me; tis true indeed, I am some weeks yet from my reckoning, but as I’m now got into the ninth month, so very little thing (the very fear of it) may bring the Child now into the World that I’m quite miserable My Dearest Jewel at the thoughts of you being away, & especially at such a Distance from me: so that I hope my Dear Life you will not regulate your motions by my Brothers; Lord Rosse had a letter last post from London, & the Duke does not leave that place till some time this week, a Gentleman who comes along with him told his correspondent so, therefore I fancy my Br will be in no hurry to leave Perthshire, I must beg however my Dr when you come that you’ll make easy journeys, for hard ridding [sic] is a most likely thing to occasion a fever, & more so at present, as they were never known to be more frequent, so I beg my dearest you will for my sake take that precaution in your travelling; Fineston of the three Houses, I should rather chuse; Dalkieth [sic] is much too Near that little Town; & Caroline Park too far from a market; but upon the whole, I should chuse a worse house independent of any Body; three hundred a year may always keep us out of any friends reverence, many a good family has no more for themselves or their Children after them, that live very easy & comfortably upon it; & provided we regulate our expences [sic] accordingly, so may we; Lord Rosse’s House at Melvill [sic] we may have from year to year; as to the rent & conditions we shall talk over at meeting, & you’ll then judge of it; I wish it was possible for one in your way of business to do as Lord Rosse did, in regard of his; for he went every day to Town for seven years & return’d again to dinner to Melvill so that my Lady had so much of his company as if he had been staying close at Home, but this Im afraid would answer one in yr way, which Im sadly vex’d at, for I must own My Dearest Life yr absence from me robs me of the principal happiness I am able to enjoy in this Life; this may seem romantick to one that does not know what tis to be divided from another self, but to none else, I’m sure, otherwise their sensations are different from mine; the Horses come for us tomorrow, so that we shall be at Home by Dinner; Mrs Campbells arm I hear is better, & the Children very well; Miss Semple stays behind; Lord & Lady Napier are here just now; all this good Family regrets yr not coming & join in kindly remembring [sic] you; do my Dearest [document damaged] my affectionate Service to my Br, who I hope I [document damaged] see before he leaves this country; I even am [document damaged] most beloved Moitié intirely [sic] & forever yours GC
Halkhead
Aug: 1st 1751

To Mr John Campbell Esq
Advocate
at Levenside
Dumbartonshire [sic]

My Dearest Life, as I have had no letters today, I know nothing of yr motions, or whether you have met with my Brother, but as I fancy this will reach you, if I direct it to Levenside, I shall forward this accordingly; enclosed is a letter for you that came by this days post; Im just going to see Mrs Smollet & propose calling upon Lady Appin, who calld here t’other day, & the same afternoon I call’d at her House; Miss Susa Campbell Airds is here who I’m going to carry with me. Miss Campbell gives hints of leaving this very soon, I fancy she does not stay the [?]. I long vastly my dearest Jewel to hear from you, & how yr horse performs; no account yet of Lady Banff; it rain’d all yesterday as usual, so that I did not see a creature, but that I never mind; for when I have not you I ant [sic] much disposed for Company; all I wish is to make such use of my retirement as will give me some [?] pleasure when nothing else can; as for profitt [sic] from attending to worldly affairs, I cant have much of that (as I intirely [sic] despair of the approbation [sic] that might encourage me to [document damaged] farther than is just necessary to prevent confusion [document damaged]. are at Levenside remember me properly to all [document damaged] me my Dearest always yrs Grace Campbell.
Aug: 8th

To John Campbell Esq
Advocate at
Levenside
Dumbartonshire [sic]

My Dearest Moitié
I received yrs Dated from Stirling this Morning and hope by this time you are got safe to Levenside where you’ll have got I suppose My last Epistle; I was all last night perplex’d dreaming of your ridding [sic] the Nasty Horse that gives me so much uneasiness; the dreams I had lately of fire I think is in some degree explained by poor Miss Crawfords sudden Death, which happen’d this day at two in the morning; last night at Seven she had nothing but her usual complaints in her Stomach, but that long uneasiness she had there burn’d in the end to a mortification, & appear’d outwardly upon her Legs a few hours before her Death, She died quite sensible but without pain or any sort of emotion. I was at her House this morning & saw her stretch’d a coarpse [sic] who yesterday at the same time of day was sitting by her fire side,
God prepare us all for so suddain [sic] a fall, not indeed that hers was suddain [sic] for she has long felt much pain & sickness tho’ few believed it, but may we who are in health and Strength now remember that as sure as she is now Dead so sure shall we sooner or later be in the Self same condition. I long sadly my dr for those nasty circuits being over, but that they wont be this age, however it gives me pleasure in the meen [sic] time to think that you are where your Company is so well bestow’d, and where there is so much to amuse you, which I cant say is the case here for the Races being over there is neither business nor Diversion going on; I was to have dined today at Bruce Hill had not poor Miss Crawfords unlook’d for Death prevented me; if you think it safe, I wish My Dearest you enclose a twenty Shillings note in yr next for I have used & paid away all to a few Shillings that you gave me. I hope James is not to leave us but if he is Miss Crawfords servant is a sober faithful Creature, & if we are to lose the other, I dont know of any that would be so easy in the House; he has been with her these three year; but I think whoever you get, you’ll change for the worse; we had a perfect hurricane here all yesterday the bed Rock’d all night like a cradle; Remember me properly to all with you I had Miss Jennys letter to day she was so good to let me know the reason of yr not writting [sic] from Levenside, poor dr little Archie she tells me is getting more teeth, let me know my dearest if he is better, & how my sweet little laughing Jack does; tell Miss Jenny I am pleased to [Document damaged] he is her little favourite, for Archie I know [Document damaged] has interest enough with his Grand Papa & [Document damaged] to secure him very good friends. Jenny grows more diverting evr’y day, as if she wanted to make me some amends in her dr papas absence who She says is away to see his two Babas. I conclude My Dearest best loved Half yours
for ever
Grace Campbell.
Aug: Saturday 22d.

To Mr Campbell

As I thought My Dearest you might be anxious to hear further about the Children I write again by this post to let you know Jack is quite recovered; archie got his Physick yesterday & is very merry and hearty tho indeed his couler [sic] & thiness [sic] makes me uneasy the heat in his hands & foulness of the Tongue is the same as yet; I don’t know what effects the mercury and Rhubarb may have after this; I do nothing hardly but gad about, yesterday I was in Town both Morning & afternoon, the first part of the day seeing my Br, & in the afternoon was at Mrs Campbell Finabs etc: so much more I can do with a companion than without one, for Miss Jenny and I visit together if we miss one place we meet in the next visit I was in hopes to have had My Br here to day to dinner but he has so much bisness he could not come but said he’d come some time to day, or let me know that I might come & see him, he has askd about you often when you are to be here, & how you do, & where you go as all [?] occurrd at different times: he was vastly good and sweet as could be. I hope you are well & am my dearest yrs
Grace Campbell
Tuesday

I believe my dr you need
not look out for a nursery
maid as I think of getting one
I know here.

To Mr Campbell

I received yours My Dearest by this days post, & am sorry to find you think of [?] the Lords to Perth for I thought you was not obliged to wait on them out of yr own Jurisdiction, & people of the Law have told me even that was optional; I cant but think my dearest [?] peoples who press yr going to Inverary [sic] must either be very thoughtless or very selfish to ask you at a time when you have been so long from Home, the folks here abouts on the contrary wonder that you stay so long away (as tis not look’d upon at all as necessary) when I am living without a Soul to speak to except Infants & Servants, those who are used to this way of Life may think it comfortable, but to me who have always livd in a large Family tis really something new; not but there was generally some body coming when the weather is fair, but the long nights curtail the length of their stay greatly; Miss Peggie Campbell was here some nights with me, & I was in hopes she’d have come again, but I believe She that is used to so good a society at Home did not admire living here so I have not seen her since; Mrs Campbell was in great concern tother day when I was at Bruce Hill because Mr Campbell talkd of going to the west for a fortnight; so you see whether I have reason to tire; I saw Mr Johnstone a day or two ago he drank tea with me, & talkd of writing to you by that nights post; he seems heartily tired of the Town for want of some acquaintance for he says he has not scarce any Body to speak to, so notwithstanding his turn to Study he’d soon tire without a companion; you’ll see by the mondays papers that the poor [?] Lyon has paid his debt to Nature, a pluratick fever has carried him out of this evil world, poor soul if he was rightly prepared for a better I’m sure he has made a most desirable change; he complain’d a good while of a pain in his side without fearing the consequences of it, I fancy He has been taken off very suddenly; I see My Dr by yr way of writing that you intend going to Inverary [sic], in which case I think youd better go from Perth as you first proposed for ’twould save you a great deal of needless travelling: Archie I think has been better since Sunday; the cure you recommend I saw d: Austin give [document damaged] to Mrs Campbell [?] son without the [document damaged] success, archies illness is in his Stomach which makes a vomit & Rhubarb the best thing he can get, he is taking Rhubarb every third day just now which I think is the thing agrees best of any with him, his food is all solids, but till these few days he eat nothing, & had very bad digestion; but both I hope are mending fast. The rest are very well. I conclude My Dearest Life Yours GC
Oct: 2d

To Mr John Campbell Advocate
At his House in the Cowgate
Edinburgh

My Dearest Life
As I had no letter from you by last nights post, I wish all has gone well in your expedition to Cranston; there’s a nasty Grey Hound that howels [sic] here continually of late, which serves to back my apprehensions whenever the failure of a letter happens, this you’ll think very odd my dearest, but inspite [sic] of all Mr Addison says about such weeknesses [sic] I cant overthrow it so far but that it leaves a damp upon My Spirits; by the time you receive this, I fancy my Brothers will be arrived in Town; we have very disagreeable weather here just now, a great deal of rain, and a sharp cold wind; Miss Semple is gone to Calder to be there a few days because I put off going to Halkhead till some time next week, in hopes youll soon be your own master after that time; yr sister Jenny is just now gone to dine at Hutchesons, so that yr mother, Tibby and I with the little folks are all that the Family at present consists of; dear little Mac has got out one of the two upper teeth that seem’d to be cutting when you left this, the other one is just breaking the skin, & will Appear we think ev’ry day; I hope he has not forgot his dear papa, for he often converses with your picture. May all thats good attend you My Dearest Aimable Moitié, and be assured this is the sincerest wish of her who intirely [sic] loves you, & will ever be
Yr faithful and obedient wife
GC
July 18th

To Mr John Campbell Advocate
at his House in the Cowgate
Edin[burgh].

July 23d

I received yours my dearest last night and with infinite pleasure read your order for the Horses, which I have been long wishing for with impatience; My expedition to the Halkhead Ive so often talk’d of & Miss Semple has delay’d her going there so long on that accounting that I cant now my Dearest easily put it off, But all the care imaginable shall be taken to prevent the least accident; Finlay drives very well and I shant forget yr caution as to not fording the water; I am only sorry my Dear Jewel to think you are under any apprehensions about my moving, & if I had been free of this appointment with Miss Semple I should not have gone, not withstanding I promise my self a great deal of pleasure in the jaunt , & don’t know when I shall have another opportunity to be at Halkhead; I think my dear the best way for us is to leave this so soon as to be there by Dinner time, Miss Jenny goes along, and we shall take your Horse too, so that Finlay may go strait from Halkhead to Edin[burgh], & the other horses Matthew will carry back to Levenside, he is grown of late a traveling Governor, having made an expedition to Tay mouth with Miss Betty, & since then has been jaunting about with Miss Semple this week past, so when he has conducted us to Halkhead he’ll have made the round of the Family; Miss Jenny Carrick if she can procure a Horse goes with us; I did not tell yr Mother what you said about training Miss Jenny’s Horse for the Chaise, because yr Sister would not like to have it put to that use, & values the exchange she has made with the Captain particularly as she thinks will secure it to her self, its not being proper for any other business. I hope my Dear Life you have remembered to fill the cellar with coals; if there be a cat in Lady Charles’s I wish she would allow it to hunt in our House, for we shall be quite overrun with Mice especially in the Pantry, which is a vast inconvenience; I’m extremely glad to hear Lady Banf [sic] recovers so well, and hope they propose being here this autumn; My best compts [compliments] to her, and all Lady Dirltons Family. Pray my dr [dear] is Mrs John Carmick in the way of being a mother or not, for they say here she is; the little folks are both very well, Dr [dear] little Archie has not been bath’d yet, but the tub Doctor Gordon bespoke for that use is arrived & so soon [document damaged] you come he shall be put into it, for as [document damaged] you before My Dearest I had not courage in your absence to [?] it; he is certainly as understanding a little fellow as ever was of his age, & really a Child to a wish: the leaders are not for him, but Jenny, who you cant offend more than to take her by her leading strings, but in the fields , theres a necessity for it, for when she trips, to catch [?] hold of her arm would be apt to pull it out of joint, the Captains Horse is apt to scar [sic] going first, so I beg my Dearest youll take care of him; may God send us a happy meeting, which is all from my most amiable moitié yours for ever
GC
[Postscript] I stay here tomorrow in hopes of another letter; I cant think how mine does not reach you regularly for they are always in the post office long before the post gets met.

To John Campbell Esq
Advocate at

My Dearest Life
I had the pleasure of yr most welcome Epistle by this days post but not a word yet of your moving which Im surprised at, as it draws so nigh the twentieth when you talkd of being here for some tryal, not that I can hear of any and I have been asking all the Lawyers I have seen about it. The Races or Diversions are going on evry day tho’ since Sunday I have not seen a Soul, for early on Monday morning Miss Mailly left this to go to Strathers [sic] the report of Miss Bettys coming made her write sooner than she proposed for her Horses, for She told me she intended to have waitted [sic] yr return, but that she thought yr Sister would have occasion to occupy her appartment [sic], & regretted much her going when she understood where Miss Betty was to put up, but the Horses were summoned, so there was no help for it. I saw yr Sister & Lady Dolly for a start & Sunday evening I forgot My Dearest to write you in my last that the poor old Captain is departed this Life; he died this day sevenight [sic], I heard say he recovered his senses, but I don’t know if it was so, only this I know that if he died as he lived, it fills me with the utmost horror to think of the lost [?] condition that his wretched Soul is now in for an endless eternity; tis really quite shocking to think of it, but the mercy of God thro Christ is infinite, & I hope poor Creature he has found Grace tho’ at the last, to ask it. I’m vastly pleased My Dr Life to hear you pass your time so agreeably, but dont forget among so many gay & agreeable Persons that you’r engaged elsewhere; I heard this day from yr Sister Jenny, all at Levenside are well, I design to enclose this to her, as she’ll know where you are. I proposed My scheme of Nursing to the Doctor he seems to have no objections but the risk one runs of catching cold which is an objection every Body tho’ ever so robust might have. I was interrupted here by the arrival of Appin & the young Bailly of Jura who has been drinking Tea with me. the last tells me the Commissioners promises are like to come to nothing, for he says now he cant serve him, the opposition he finds is so strong against him. I hope my Dr Life to see you this week notwithstanding you dont say any thing of it; in the mean time I remain my best Loved Moitié
Yr sincerest Friend as
well as Dutiful Wife
Grace Campbell.
Tuesday 18th